William "Will" Jeffreys, of Newport, Gent.

Family

William Jeffries was the son of William and Audrey (Harvey) Jefferay of Chiddingly, Sussex [EIHC 17:27-33; Waters 253].

MARRIAGE: By 1642 Mary Gould, daughter of Jeremy Gould of Weymouth and Newport (Daniel and John Gould, sons of Jeremiah Gould, were appointed overseers of the will of their brother-in-law William Jefferys [Austin 306, citing an unknown source]. She survived him.

CHILDREN:

• i MARY, b. Weymouth 20 March 1642; m. by about 1665 John Greene [Austin 87].
• ii THOMAS, b. say 1646; named in father's will, 8 December 1674; perhaps returned to England, having inherited his father's estate there.
• iii SARAH, b. say 1650; m. by 1675 James Barker [Austin 14].
• iv PRISCILLA, b. say 1652; m. by about 1682 as his first wife Thomas Coddington [Austin 278].
• v SUSANNAH, b. about 1656; m. by about 1688 Edward Thurston [Austin 201].

Estate

ESTATE: "W[illia]m Jeffryes, gent.," was a patentee of Agamenticus [York] on 2 December 1631 (and on 2 March 1631/2) [York Hist 1:86-88]. On November 1641 he received his division of lands at York, in partnership with Samuel Maverick, Elias Maverick and Hugh [sic] Bursley [York Hist 1:135].
"Mr. William Jefferey" held land in Newport as early as 16 January 1648[/9], when he was named as an abutter to lands being sold by James Rogers to Richard Knight, and on 6 June 1650 "William Jefferey" promised to "make the fence that hath been in controversy betwixt Richard Knight and myself" [RILE 1:5]. On 22 March 1653/4 "William Jefferays" sold to Lawrence Turner and Tobias Saunders a parcel of land measuring sixty-seven rods by fifty-six rods, "being the eastern part of the lands of William Jefferays of Newport" [RILE 1:28].

In his will, dated 8 December 1674 and proved 9 January 1675, "William Jefferay of Newport ... gent." bequeathed to "my eldest daughter Mary Greene the wife of John Greene of Newport ... lands ... being in Blackman Street near the City of London which lands ... were given me by ... my mother Audry Jefferay late of Chittingly in ... Sussex," with a part of the rents reserved for "my wife Mary Jefferay"; to "my son Thomas Jefferay all the remainder of my estate in old England"; to "my daughter Sarah the wife of James Barker of Newport" £5; to "my two daughters Priscilla and Susannah Jefferay all my land and housing" in Newport, being twenty-five acres; daughter Mary Greene to be executrix; "my wife's two brethren John and Danill Gould overseers" [RILE 1:66-67; Austin 112].

Notes

From https://www.caskey-family.com/william-jefferay/

Note: Has a degree from Cambridge

Immigration: 1623 England to Weymouth, Massachusetts

Authorization: 21 APR 1629

Note: In their first letter to John Endicott, on 21 April 1629, the Governor and Deputies of the Massachusetts Bay Company noted that “W[illia]m Jeffryes, gent.,” was one of those authorized by Gorges to give possession of a grant of land to John Oldham. In the patent to Thomas Lewis and Richard Bonython, and in the patent to John Oldham and Richard Vines, both issued on 12 February 1629/30, William Jeffreys was appointed, along with William Blackstone and Edward Hilton, to put these men in possession of their lands.

Note: 09 DEC 1630 Details: John Humphrey wrote from London to Isaac Johnson, not knowing of Johnson’s untimely death in September. In describing the machinations and political posturing going on at Court regarding the settlement in Massachusetts Bay, Humphrey mentioned the contrary position Sir Ferdinando Gorges had taken and the ammunition for that position being sent in letters by Jeffreys, saying “Jefferie is a bad man, he basely flings out in his letters to him, which Sir Ferd[inando] showed me, handle him wisely and by no means exasperate such spirits”

Freeman: 18 MAY 1631 Note: Requested 19 October 1630 (as “Mr. Will: Jeffries”) and admitted 18 May 1631 (as “Mr. Willm Jeffry”) In Newport section of 1655 Rhode Island list of freemen.

Note: MAY 1634 Details: He is called “my very good gossip” by Morton in a letter from the latter, a fact sometimes cited to show they were intimates, but negatived apparently by his subscription for the expulsion of Morton.

Note: 04 AUG 1634 Details: A “letter was delivered to Mr. Winthrop by Mr. Jeffery, an old planter, written to him from Morton, wherein he related, how he had obtained his long suit, and that a commission was granted for a general governor to be sent over, with many railing speeches and threats against this plantation, and Mr. Winthrop in particular. Mr. Winthrop acquainted the governor and council with it, and some of the ministers”

Note: 1636 Details: He had a legacy of 10 shillings to buy a ring, by the will of his brother-in-law Hugh Evans, of London.

Note: FEB 1640 Details: “Jeremy Gould of Rode Island yeoman & Will[ia]m Jeffreys of Weymouth … gent” were bound in £30, on the condition that on or before the following 24 August Gould would convey to Henry Waltham three acres of meadow in Weymouth [ Lechford 372-73]. (William Jeffreys may already have been married to Jeremy Gould’s daughter Mary by the date of this transaction.)

Burial: Common Burial Ground, Newport Cemetery, Newport, Rhode Island
Note: The inscription on his tombstone is as follows: “Here lyeth interred the body of Wm. Jeffray, Gent. who departed this life on the 2nd day of Jany., 1675, in the 85th year of his age.”

• “Since every tomb an epitaph can have,
• The Muses owe their tribute to this grave.
• And to succeeding ages recommend
• His worthy name who lived and died their friend;
• Being full of days and virtues, love and peace,
• God from his troubles gave him a release,
• And called him unto the celestial place.
• Where happy souls view their Creator’s face.
• Vivit post funera Virtus.”

Disambiguation

• Not the husband of Mary Coggeshall
• Not this William Jefferies: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141448374/william-jeffries

References

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54986377/william-jeffreys
• The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. Vol. 1-3. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995. link
• https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.jeffreys/68.76.78.79.80.81...
• The Journal of William Jefferay, Gentleman: Born at Chiddingly, Old England...1591; Died at Newport, New England...1675. Being Some Account of Divers People, Places and Happenings, Chiefly in New England; a Diary that Might Have Been. John Osborne Austin. Press of E. L. Friedman & Sons (1899).
  • Page 1. GoogleBooks “I was born at Chiddingly Manor (The Peaks, as we do call it), in the county of Sussex, in the year 1591; near an hundred years after the discovery of that great America, but much before settlement of the sheltered corner wherein I finally abode. My father's family had long been seated at Chiddingly, and were ever a respectable, welldoing and well-deserving race, as I have heard ancient people say, and do verily believe it so. My father's name was William Jefferay, and my grandfather, Thomas Jefferay, was cousin to that Sir John Jefferay, knight, some time Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, who lies buried with others of the name in Chiddingly church. (Sir John died May 28th, 1570. He did build a goodly house, since called The Place.) My mother was Audry, daughter of Thomas Harvey, of London, whose brother, my great-uncle, was Clarenceux. I had but one brother, Thomas, and seven sisters, Jone, Audry, Susan, Alice, Mary, Elizabeth, and Ann, all of them well married, as the saying is. I was born in a fair country, of which more anon, and to a fair estate, and have bethought me often, in some straits and hardships across the sea, why I left so much to gain so little. Yet one gain I made that was worth all, and more, of my trials, for it was there I found the best wife man ever had; so, if all be considered, I am well content.
  • Page 6 GoogleBooks “1603. Our Most Gracious Queen, Elizabeth, died, after a reign of more than two score years, not to be matched for great men and glorious deeds. To her succeeded His Majesty King James I. It was in this same year that it was deemed wise to place me at the university, though I have since thought I was too young and ill prepared. Natheless I entered at Cambridge as sizar (July 7th) taking my degree of B. A. three years later, and meanwhile gaining more enjoyment from certain new companionships, than from my studies, with which I taxed myself not too hardly. My particular college was Caius ...”
  • Page 16 GoogleBooks “1634. My mother died this year. She had lived of late in the parish of St. Austin (near St. Paul's) London, and I think at her son-in-law Richard Turner's house, sign of the Golden Key, Watling Street. I had fain hoped to see her once again, but Old England hath now still less to draw me back. She was ever a good and tender mother to me, who was, alas, but too ill contented a child, though I loved her most dearly, and trust she doth now know it. She hath left me by her will, (with other estate in Southwark) that ale house " Cordelyon" where first I heard some tales of these distant shores.”
  • Page 139 - 141. GoogleBooks “Dec. 8. Dr. Cranston, my good physician and friend, admonisheth me that, with my years upon me, and some special weaknesses, I may not see the year out; though now drawing to its close. I have, therefore, put my house in order for the great change, and in my will (this day made), have provided, as my estate will allow, for my dear wife and children.My eldest daughter, Mary, hath been sometime wife to John Greene, and I have made her executrix; giving her some London estate received by me from my mother's will. Sarah hath lately married James Barker, Jr., and I believe there is a leaning in Susannah toward one Edward Thurston, Jr., and of Priscilla to Thomas Coddington (son of our now Governor, by his third wife, who is a sister of Mr. Brinley). I think they be all hopeful young men.To my son Thomas I have given houses and tenements, &c, owned by me in England (all save what I give to my daughter, Mary Greene), and I hope he may see that old home, whether he remaineth in England or not.And this hath set my mind strongly, tonight, toward those places wherein my youth was spent; especially to Chiddingly. I see again the house, the fields, the garden, all as of yore; with the church that I attended, and the people who sat therein. Aye, and those ancient rooks, in solemn flight to and fro. 'Tis an old man's fanciful way thus to turn to his childhood in his later days, they say, but it is, indeed, pleasant so to dwell; and brings some comfort, as well as sadness, with the remembrance. The sun is close to setting, now. Things that had seemed of grave import (matters to be straightened, errors in others to be shaken) prevail not with me as I near the gate; but that which seemeth the best is peace; aye, peace for all men, instead of petty strife. Live by the golden rule, and peace shall then, indeed, come to us all. My hand graspeth this pen but feebly, yet it may still hold my wife's awhile; that dear hand that hath always had a leading toward God.”
  • Page 143 GoogleBooks. Notes by the Editor. 1. Mr. Jefferay died Jan. 2, 1675; ... 3. Mr. Jefferay's descendants are very numerous, to-day, through his daughters, Mary Greene, Susanna Thurston, and Sarah Barker. His daughter Priscilla Coddington, had two children, but they died youug. As to liis son, Thomas Jefferay, it is believed that he went to England, where he had interests acquired under the wills of his father, uncle, and grandfather, as the reader will have observed. His name is not found upon Newport records, nor any evidence of his residence there; though he was an adult (or nearly so), presumably, at his father's death.
• Turner, H E, and R H. Tilley. The Rhode Island historical magazine, Volumes 1-2. Newport, R.I: Newport Historical Pub. Co, 1880 page 256. James Barker, (4) of Newport, R.I., b 1647; mar. 1673, Sarah, dau. of Wm. and Mary (Gould) Jeffrey. He died 1722

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Mary Gould m. 1640, William Jeffrey, one of the earliest settlers in Massachusetts Bay before Endicott or Winthrop; d. 1675.(p. 20)[1]

-Note: 1636 Details: William Jeffries had a legacy of 10 shillings to buy a ring, by the will of his brother-in-law Hugh Evans, of London.

Biography

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Jefferys-4

William Jeffreys (Jeffry, Jeffryes, Jefferey, Jefferays, Jefferay)[1] was born about 1590, son of William and Audrey (Harvey) Jefferay of Chiddingly, Sussex, England.[2]

William had sister Audrey Jefferys who married Hugh Evance; her will was proved London 25 Oct 1651. Her son John Evance was an early resident of New Haven, CT.

"Savage suggested that Robert Jeffreys of Newport may have been a brother, but William's mother's will showed he had only one brother, Thomas.

Throughout the 1620s and 1630s, William is frequently associated with John Burseley of Weymouth, suggesting the possibility of a kinship connection or that they were both two leading citizens of the town.
He emigrated 1623, residing initially in Weymouth, removing to Newport by January 1648, when he held land there. He married by 1642 Mary Gould, daughter of Jeremy Gould of Weymouth and Newport, sister to Daniel and John Gould. She survived William Jeffreys.

He died in Newport, RI on 2 Jan 1675 in the 85th year of his age.

William was born about 1590 in Sussex, England. He emigrated to Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 and was admitted a Freeman 18 May 1631 (as "Mr. Willm Jeffry").

Name

William Jefferey[3][4][5][6][7] Wm. Jefferies[8] William Jeffreys[9]

Children

1. Mary, b Weymouth 20 Mar 1642; m by about 1665 John Greene
2. Tomas, b abt 1646, named in father's will 8 Dec 1675; perhaps returned to England, having inherited his father's estate there.
3. Sarah, b abt 1650; m by 1675 James Barker
4. Priscilla, b abt 1652; m by abt 1682 as his first wife Thomas Coddington
5. Susannah, b abt 1656; m by abt 1688 Edward Thurston
6. A slightly better than cursory examination reveals William and Mary had three additional children: William, Jr, William III, and Mary Ann Branch (born Jefferys). This writer believes these three were intentionally written out of the will.

"Savage includes a son John 'by tradition,' but no son by this name appears in William's will, or in any other record."

References

• The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. Vol. 1-3. Boston, MA, USA: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995.
• https://www.caskey-family.com/william-jefferay/---

History of Weymouth, Massachusetts: Published by the Weymouth ..., Volume 3By Weymouth Historical Society (Weymouth, Mass.)https://books.google.com/books?id=rTRNAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA334&lpg=PA334&d...